Sorting tray



c. E. LOUCKS 2,229,299

sonnue TRAY Jan. 21, 1941.

Filed Aug. 7,, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IllUllllllllllHlllHlllHll INVENTOR. Q A TON E. Laue/ 5.

mam

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 21, 1941. c. a. LOUCKS son'rme TRAY Filed Aug. '7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLATONE. Laue/ 5.

BY M

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SORTING TRAY rich and R. E. Ulrich Application August 7, 1939 Serial No. 288,733

20 Claims.

My invention consists of an improved construc. tion of sorting tray including a plurality of vertically supported partitions connected With and supported by a flat base, and connecting devices including a fiat strip or strips of thin material preferably of metal secured at their ends to said base, and connecting clips having sliding engagement with said strip or strips and secured respectively at their upstanding ends to the lower portions of said partitions, the engagement of said clips with said strips preferably being such that they will not be accidentally separated from said strips during the use of the tray.

More specifically, my improvedpartition-supporting clips each consists of a fiat piece of thin sheet metal, folded at its mid-portion to form a horizontally extending foot portion of double thickness, and from the mid-portion of the upper thickness, the end portions of the clip extend upwardly vertically and closely adjacent one of the partitions to which said end portions are secured, for example by rivets. Said foot portion extends longitudinally of the strip with which it cooperates and is of substantial extent between the folds of the clip, to give stable support to the connected partition in a generally vertical position.

In one form of my invention, the folded edges of the clip are slotted so that the supporting strip extends through said slots with the thicknesses of the foot portion of the clip above and below said strip and with said foot portion extending entirely around said strip. In another form of the invention the foot portion of the clip is provided with opposite edge notches just below the connected partition, for sliding engagement with the opposite edges of a longitudinal slot through the supporting strip, with both thicknesses of the foot portion below said strip.

The sorting trays described are provided with partitions of sizes adapted to the purposes for which they are used, which may include the sorting and classifying of cancelled checks and other papers incident to banking, as well as vouchers,

statements and papers generally pertaining to business, and said trays are useful in any cases where the sorting and classifying of the papers involves considerable labor due to their large number. 1

The sorting trays described may or may not be provided with containers as preferred, and where containers are employed, they may be covered or open. and may consist of portable structures or be relatively stationary, for example, said containers may be in the form of cabinets, desk drawers and the like. If preferred, where containers are employed, the supporting strips may be secured directly to the bottoms of the containers which then become the bases of the trays, although for many purposes, where versatility is desired, the complete trays are preferably loosely held in the containers for ready removal therefrom.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments thereof, in which Fig. 1 shows a form of my sorting tray adapted for use with relatively small papers and contained in a portable open container, this View being a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view through the container and tray, taken along the line 33 15 in Fig. 2, but to a smaller scale than Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional View to an enlarged scale of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line 22 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 2 taken along the line 3--3 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 illustrates ina view similar to Fig. 3, one of the partitions in tilted position,

Fig. 5 is a bottom View of the connecting clip, partition and supporting strip, taken along the line 55 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a form of my sorting tray adapted for use with larger papers than the tray illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

Fig. 7 is a vertical, sectional view to an enlarged scale of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 6, taken along the line 1-1 in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a vertical, sectional view to an enlarged scale of a part of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6, taken along the line 88 in Fig. 6.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The sorting tray shown in Figs. 1 and 2 con- 40 sists essentially of a flat base It) of any suitable material having sufficient stiffness to impart stability to the device, to the end portions of which the ends of a thin retaining strip II, for example, of metal, are secured in any suitable manner, for example, by screws or rivets, so that said strip extends centrally of the base and from end to end thereof, said strip having mounted thereon clips 12, one for each of the partitions l3 employed, the lower central portion of each partition being secured to one of said clips.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, each of the clips l2 which is made of thin sheet material, for example, metal, is of double thickness at its lower mid-portion, the lower thickness I211, 55

being horizontal and below and in engagement with the bottom surface of the retaining strip l l while the upper thickness H1) is also horizontal but above and in engagement with the upper surface of the retaining strip I I, said thicknesses being joined by folds lZc which are slotted to permit the strip 1 l to extend through said folds, the material of the clip being enough wider than the strip H to leave uninterrupted portions of said folds sufficient to constitute an effective connection between the thicknesses 12a and I22) at the outer opposite edges of the clip. The upper end portions l2d of the clip are bent from the mid-portion or the upper thickness l2b, to extend vertically upwards adjacent the lower mid-portion of the partition 13 supported thereby, to which said vertical end portions are secured, for example, by rivets M. The partitions l3 are made of any suitable thin sheet material, for example, pressboard or metal, having sufiicient stability to maintain them in substantially vertical position and extending transversely of said strip H, as required for the uses to which the sorting tray may be put. The partitions l3 may be provided with classification indications, either by means of card holders IE or otherwise, depending upon the sorting requirements.

As a result of the construction described, the partitions 13 are held substantially in vertical position, and may be freely moved towards and from each other, and as many of said partitions may be used as desired for any sorting operation, depending upon the requirements from time to time. To permit free movement of the end clips 12 as near to the ends of the strip H as its fastenings will permit, the ends of the strip II are preferably suitably spaced from the base It, as indicated.

In using the sorting tray described, where it is desired to increase the separation of the upper portions of adjacent partitions momentarily, for example, to insert papers between said partitions, any said partition may be tilted somewhat from its vertical position as illustrated in Fig. without changing its permanent spacing for the sorting operation then in hand, from adjacent partitions, the amount of said tilting which is readily available being determined by the flexibility and resilience of the strip H, which resil ience returns the tilted partition to its vertical position when the pressure tilting it is released. The tilting action described may be facilitated by making the slots in the folds I20 somewhat wider vertically than the thickness of the strip H, and correspondingly increasing the spacing of the clip thicknesses l2a and [2b from each other.

Where the use and location of the sorting tray are temporary and subject to frequent change, and there is no need for housing or enclosing it, the tray may be used without additional structure than that so far described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. Where, however, the location of the tray is desired to be semi-permanent, and/or it is desired to partly or entirely house it, the tray may be placed in any suitable container 16 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, which container may have any desired depth depending upon the purpose it is intended to serve. The container It shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is illustrative of any suitable housing that may be desired for the tray, for example, a box with or without a cover, the drawer of a filing cabinet, the drawer of a desk, or any equivalent housing. Where the location of the tray relatively to the container is apt to be temporary, the tray described may be loosely contained in the housing, but where the tray is desired to be permanently associated with its housing, it may be secured to the bottom wall of the container in any suitable manner, for example, by screws, or if preferred in such cases, the tray may be built into the container structure by securing the ends of the retaining strip ll directly to the bottom wall of the container, which bottom wall then becomes the flat base of the sorting tray.

The construction of sorting tray illustrated in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 is adapted particularly for the sorting of larger papers than can be conveniently sorted with the construction of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

The sorting tray shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 consists of a flat base 20 to the end portions of which the ends of two parallel retaining strips ii of thin sheet material, for example, metal, are suitably secured, for example, by screws or rivets, the ends of said strips being preferably suitably spaced from said base to aiford free movement of the partition clips as near to the ends of said strips as the end structure and support of said strips will permit.

Each of the strips 2| is provided with a longitudinal slot 21a. having substantially parallel edges and extending nearly from end to end of the strip. The unslotted end portions of each strip are only of sufficient extent longitudinally of the strip to positively hold the edge portions of the strip in definite normal position relatively to each other and to afi'ord convenient engagement with the devices securing the end portions of the strip to the base. If preferred, each of the strips 2| may be built up from two narrower parallel strips spaced laterally from each other an amount equal to the width of the slot Zia and securely fastened at their ends to the base to maintain said lateral spacing.

Each of the strips 2| supports a plurality of partition clips 22 for longitudinal movement in its slot 2m, and one of said clips in each of said slots is secured to one of the partitions 23 to hold said partition in substantially vertical position transversely of said strips 2!, that is to say, the first clip in each of said slots is secured to the first partition, the second clip in each of said slots is secured to the second partition and so on, as a result of which each partition 23 is provided at its lower portion with two spaced supports.

As shown in Figs. '7 and 8, each of the clips 22 consists of a strip of sheet material, for example, metal, folded at its mid-portion to have horizontal lower and upper thicknesses 22a and 22?) re 7 spectively, pressed closely together and connected by folds 220, both of said thicknesses being below the corresponding retaining strip 2i. The upper end portions 22d of the clip are bent from the mid-portion of the upper thickness 22?), to extend vertically upwards adjacent the lower portion of the partition 23 supported thereby, to which said vertical end portions are secured, for example, by rivets 24. The partitions 23 may be made of material similar to the material of the partitions l3, and the partitions 23 may be provided with classification indications in any desired manner whether by card holders or otherwise.

The material of the clips 22 is somewhat wider than the width of the slots Zia, and the edges of the vertical portions 220! of each clip, are provided adjacent the thickness 22b of the clip, with edge slots 22a of such depth that the distance across the clip at the bottoms of said edge slots is a little less than the width of the slots 21a,

base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material the height of said edge slots 22c being somewhat greater than the thickness of the strips 2!, to facilitate tilting any partition 23 from its vertical position when desired. The said tilting of the partitions 23 is further facilitated in the manner above described in connection with Fig. 4.

As a result of the construction described, the horizontal thicknesses 22a and 22b of the clips 22 extend under the portions of the strips 2| adjacent the slots 2la, sufliciently to retain the lower portions of the clips between the strips 2| and the base 20, the construction at the same time permitting each partition 23 to be moved freely longitudinally of the strips 2| to effect desired spacings of the partitions from each other. With this construction, each partition 23 has two spaced Supports which is desirable Where the partitions are'of relatively large size, and the partitions may readily be inserted in place or removed from the sorting tray as desired, by twisting the side portions of the strips 2| sufficiently to insert the thicknesses 22a and 2211 through the slots Zia and under said strips or to remove said thicknesses from under said strips.

The sorting tray illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 may be used as shown or, if preferred, it may be provided with a container in the same manner and for the same purposes as above described in connection with the sorting tray illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, and it is susceptible of the many uses and has the many advantages of the tray shown in Figs. 1 to. 5, the principal difference being that the tray shown in Figs. 6, 7 .and 8 is adapted for use with larger sheets of material to be sorted or classified, than is the tray shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiments above described, it will be understood that I do not limit myself thereto, as I may employ equivalents thereof without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a sorting tray, the combination of a flat base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed mid-portion held between said strip and said base for sliding movement longitudinally of said strip and having also vertically extending end portions adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto to support said partition.

2. In a sorting tray, the combination of .a flat base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed mid-portion held between said strip and said base for sliding movement longitudinally of strip and having also vertically extending end portions adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto to support said partition, each of said clips having slots engaging said strip and holding said clip in sliding engagement with said strip.

3. In a sorting tray, the combination of a fiat closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting andretaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed midportion held between saidstrip .and said base for sliding movement longitudinally of said strip and having also vertically extending end portions adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto to support said partition, said strip being resilient and tending to hold said partitions in substantially vertical position and permitting the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position. I

4. In a sorting tray, the combination of a fiat base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed mid-portion held between said strip and said base for sliding movement longitudinally of said strip and having also vertically extending end portions adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto to support said partition, each of said clips having slots engaging said strip and holding said clip in sliding engagement with said strip, said 7 strip being resilient and tending to hold said partitions in substantially vertical position and permitting the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position.

5. In a sorting tray, the combination of a flat base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed mid-portion held between said strip and said base for sliding movement longitudinally of said strip and having also vertically extending end portions adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto to support said partition, each of said clips having slots engaging said strip and holding said clip in sliding engagement with said strip, said strip being resilient and tending to hold said partitions in substantially vertical position and permitting the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position, the vertical extent of said slots being greater than the thickness of said strip and facilitating said tilting movement.

6. In a sorting tray, the combination of a flat base, a horizontal strip of thin and resilient sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed mid-portion held between said strip and said base for sliding movement longitudinally of said strip and having also vertically extending end portions adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto to support said partition, each of said clips having slots engaging said strip and holding said clip in sliding engagement with said strip, the vertical extent of said slots being greater than the thickness of said strip .and facilitating the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position.

'7. In a sorting tray, the combination of a flat base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed midportion of double thickness, said thicknesses being respectively above and below said strip and joined by outer edge folds, said folds being spaced a substantial distance from each other to impart stable support to the attached partition, said upper thickness terminating in bent ends extending vertically upwards adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto.

8. In a sorting tray, the combination of a flat base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed midportion of double thickness, said thicknesses being respectively above and below said strip and joined by outer edge folds, said folds being spaced a substantial distance from each other to impart stable support to the attached partition, said upper thickness terminating in bent ends extending vertically upwards adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto, said folds being slotted to facilitate sliding said strip therethrough.

9. In a sorting tray, the combination of a flat base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed midpcrtion of double thickness, said thicknesses being respectively above and below said strip and joined by outer edge folds, said folds being spaced a substantial distance from each other to impart stable support to the attached partition, said upper thickness terminating in bent ends extending vertically upwards adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto, said folds being slotted to facilitate sliding said strip therethrough, said folded portions being of greater width than the width of said strip and continuous between said thicknesses around both of the edges of said strip.

9, In a sorting tray, the combination of a flat base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions sup-porting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed midportion of double thickness, said thicknesses being respectively above and below said strip and joined by outer edge folds, said folds being spaced a substantial distance from each other to impart stable support to the attached partition, said upper thickness terminating in bent ends extending vertically upwards adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto, said strip being resilient and tending to hold said partitions in substantially vertical position and permitting the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position.

11. In a sorting tray, the combination of a flat base, a horizontal strip of thin and resilient sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed midportion of double thickness, said thicknesses being respectively above and below said strip and joined by outer edge folds, said folds being spaced a substantial distance from each other to impart stable support to the attached partition, said upper thickness terminating in bent ends extending vertically upwards adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto, said folds being slotted to facilitate sliding said strip therethrough, the vertical extent of said slots being greater than the thickness of said strip and facilitating the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position.

12. In a sorting tray, the combination of a flat base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet. material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed midportion of double thickness, said thicknesses being respectively above and below said strip and joined by outer edge folds, said folds being spaced a substantial distance from each other to impart stable support to the attached partition, said upper thickness terminating in bent ends extending vertically upwards adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto, said folds being slotted to facilitate sliding said strip therethrough, said strip being resilient and tending to hold said partitions in substantially vertical position and permitting the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position, the vertical extent of said slots being greater than the thickness of said strip and facilitating said tilting movement.

13. In a sorting tray, the combination of a flat base, a horizontal strip of thin and resilient sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, each of thin sheet material extending transversely of of said clips having a horizontally disposed midportion of double thickness, said thicknesses being respectively above and below said strip and joined by outer edge folds, said folds being spaced a substantial distance from each other to impart stable support to the attached partition, said upper thickness terminating in bent ends extending vertically upwards adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto, said folds being slotted to facilitate sliding said strip therethrough, said folded portions being of greater width than the width of said strip and continuous between said thicknesses around both of the edges of said strip, the vertical extent of said slots being greater than the thickness of said strip and facilitating the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position.

14. In asorting tray, the combination of a fiat base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, said strip having a longitudinal slot therein from adjacent one of its ends to adjacent the other of its ends,

' each of said clips having a horizontally disposed mid-portion of double thickness below said strip and joined by edge folds spaced a substantial distance from each other to impart stable support to the attached partition, the upper one of said thicknesses terminating in bent ends extending vertically upwards through the slot in said strip and adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto, said clip being Wider than the width of said slot and having edge slots in line with said strip, the inner ends of said edge slots being spaced slightly less than the width of said strip slot to receive said strip in said edge slots.

15. In a sorting tray, the combinationof a fiat base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, said strip having a longitudinal slot therein from adjacent one of its ends to adjacent the other of its ends, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed mid-portion of double thickness below said strip and joined by edge folds spaced a substantial distance from each other to impart stable support to the attached partition, the upper one of said thicknesses terminating in bent ends extending vertically upwards through the slot in said strip and adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto, said clip being wider than the width of said slot and having edge slots in line with said strip, the inner ends of said edge slots being spaced slightly less than the width of said strip slot to receive said strip in said edge slots, said strip being resilient and tending to hold said partitions in substantially vertical position and permitting the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position.

16. In a sorting tray, the combination of a fiat base, a horizontal strip of thin sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, said strip having a longitudinal slot therein from adjacent one of its ends to adjacent the other of its ends, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed mid-portion of double thickness below said strip and joinedby edge folds spaced a substantial distance from each other to impart stable support to the attached partition, the upper one of said thicknesses terminating in bent ends extending vertically upwards through the slot in said strip and adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto, said clip being Wider than the width of said slot and having edge slots in line with said strip, the inner ends of said edge slots being spaced slightly less than the width of said strip slot to receive said strip in said edge slots, said strip being resilient and tending to hold said partition in substantially vertical position and permitting the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position, the vertical extent, of said edge slots being greater than the thickness of said strip and facilitating said tilting movement.

17. In a sorting tray, the combination of a fiat base, a horizontal strip of thin and resilient sheet material closely adjacent and secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strip, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strip, said strip having a longitudinal slot therein from adjacent one of its ends toadjacent the other of its ends, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed mid-portion of double thickness below said strip and joined by edge folds spaced a substantial distance from each other to impart stable support to the attached partition, the upper one of said thicknesses terminating in bent ends extending vertically upwards through the slot in said strip and adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto, said clip being wider than the width of said slot and having edge slots in line with said strip, the inner ends of said edge slots being spaced slightly less than the Width of said strip slot to receive said strip in said edge slots, the vertical extent of said edge slots being greater than the thickness of said strip and facilitating the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position.

18. In a sorting tray, the combination of a flat base, two parallel horizontal and spaced strips of thin sheet material closely adjacent and each secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strips, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strips, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed mid-portion held between one of said strips and said base for sliding movement longitudinally of said strip and having also vertically extending end portions adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto to support said partition.

19. In a sorting tray, the combination of a fiat base, two parallel horizontal and spaced strips of thin sheet material closely adjacent and each secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strips, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strips, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed mid-portion held between one of said strips and said base for sliding movement longitudinally of said strip and having also vertically extending end portions adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto to support said partition, each of said strips being resilient and tending to hold said partitions in substantially vertical position and permitting the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position.

20. In a sorting tray, the combination of a flat base, two parallel horizontal and spaced strips of thin sheet material closely adjacent and each secured at its ends to said base, a plurality of vertically disposed partitions of thin sheet material extending transversely of said strips, and clips of folded sheet material secured to the lower portions of said partitions supporting and retaining said partitions in sliding relation longitudinally of said strips, each .of said strips having a longitudinal slot therein from adjacent one of its ends to adjacent the other of its ends, each of said clips having a horizontally disposed midportion of double thickness below one of said strips and joined by edge folds spaced a substantial distance from each other to impart stable support to the attached partition, the upper one of said thicknesses terminating in bent ends extending vertically upwards through the slot in the corresponding strip and adjacent the corresponding partition and secured thereto, each of said clips being Wider than the width of the corresponding slot and having edge slots'in line with the corresponding strip, the inner ends of said edge slots being spaced slightly less than the width of the corresponding strip slot to receive said strip in said edge slots, each of said strips being resilient and tending to hold said partitions in substantially vertical position and permitting the tilting of a desired partition from its vertical position.

CLATON E. LOUCKS. 

